Among the many daunting phrases in the business world is “Business Process Management (BPM).” Three critical and complicated aspects of work come together to form one niche (and one phrase), so we need to tread carefully here.
But what if we told you that it is not very difficult? What if we used the word “fun” to describe it instead of the regular jargon of “boring,” “frustrating,” and “scary?”
We can hear you scream at us.
Hold on, though. We will reason all our claims by helping you understand what business process management (BPM) is, its benefits, and how you can get started with it right away.
Business process management (BPM) is about conducting business in the most efficient way possible. In other words, BPM is the process of designing, monitoring, managing, and executing interrelated business processes. This means that you bring various processes in your organization together and optimize them for the overall welfare of the company.
To understand this more clearly, we should learn about a process, business process management system and what it means in the world of business.
In the world of business, processes are the lifeblood that keeps organizations running smoothly and efficiently. A Business Process Management System, or BPMS, is like an orchestra conductor, ensuring that all the instruments (i.e., processes, tasks, and people) are harmoniously synchronized to produce a beautiful symphony of productivity.
At its core, a BPMS software solution empowers organizations to design, model, automate, monitor, and optimize their business processes. Think of it as a digital toolkit for streamlining operations and achieving higher levels of efficiency and effectiveness.
Business Process Management (BPM) stands as the dynamic compass guiding modern enterprises toward efficiency, agility, and sustained success. In a world where adaptability is paramount, BPM emerges as the bedrock upon which streamlined operations are built. By meticulously analyzing, refining, and orchestrating workflows, BPM optimizes resource allocation, enhances collaboration, accelerates decision-making, and ensures adherence to industry regulations.
Just as a symphony relies on the harmonious coordination of individual notes, BPM harmonizes the diverse elements of an organization into a synchronized masterpiece. It empowers businesses to adapt swiftly to changing market landscapes, innovate purposefully, and exceed customer expectations. BPM isn’t just a methodology; it’s the heartbeat of business evolution, propelling companies towards resilience and competitive prowess in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Every organization engages in BPM in some way or another, and business process management works in multiple structures. Primarily, every business needs three types of BPM in different ratios. The following is a list that would help you better understand BPM’s scope.
The document-centric BPM involves the creation of a document and getting approvals from multiple people in the workflow. This is the ideal form of BPM for any organization that relies on reports. The primary purpose of document-centric BPM is to reduce the need to send emails and wait for a response. Also, it allows you to keep the data safe without letting it get lost among other piles.
All the business processes that need humans to make decisions at some point need human-centric BPM. It focuses on the involvement of individuals and automation, both for efficient workflow. Under this type of BPM, the number of processes to be automated is limited, and the decisions to be made by personnel are prominent. Human-centric BPM is best for organizations that involve human activities daily.
Integration-centric BPM has become a go-to tool for most companies. Its central focus is to create a smooth workflow between the multiple tools of the organization. Business process management and automation of tasks using software solutions is a practice that all organizations wish to follow, and it connects the several software that exist in the organization. The main idea behind incorporating this set of BPM is to increase productivity with reduced manual efforts.
BPMS allows businesses to map their processes visually, like drawing a roadmap. This helps understand how various organizational tasks and activities connect and flow.
Once a process is designed, a BPMS can automate repetitive, rule-based tasks, reducing manual effort and the risk of human error. This is like having a reliable robot that handles routine chores.
It manages the flow of tasks, information, and approvals among employees and systems, ensuring that work moves seamlessly from one step to the next, much like an efficient assembly line.
BPMS keeps a watchful eye on processes, providing real-time data and insights. It’s akin to having a dashboard that shows how well your business engine is running and where it might need a tune-up.
BPMS helps identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement. It acts as a business coach, suggesting ways to refine processes for better outcomes.
It connects with other software and systems within an organization, fostering collaboration and data exchange. This integration resembles a universal translator that enables different systems to communicate.
A BPMS is like a trusted ally in the world of business, empowering organizations to adapt, evolve, and thrive in an ever-changing landscape. It’s a tool that promotes agility, efficiency, and the pursuit of excellence, ultimately contributing to an organization’s growth and success.
This is probably one of the most overused words today. A process is nothing but a set of tasks that are related to each other. They are initiated simultaneously or one after the other to achieve a common goal or a result.
But aren’t these just tasks?
They are.
There’s a thin line between tasks and processes, and a result-oriented approach draws that. A process is always done keeping the end result in mind. It is easy to execute and optimize based on the situation. A process is known to increase productivity by 24,000%.
There are many different types of processes, and 3 of them are important for all businesses. They are:
A business process is a set of activities, tasks, and events performed by systems and people to achieve a business goal. Business process improvement is a process of documenting, analyzing, and updating the business process for enhanced results. Commissioning a process involves several steps ranging from the ideation of the process through the building and continuous improvement of the process – this is typically referred to as the business process life-cycle of a process.
Also read: BPM Software – 11 things to consider for choosing the right one
If done properly, business project management can open up an ocean of benefits for your organization. Implementing business processes through automation yields even better results compared to manual implementation. We have outlined a few benefits below:
As aforementioned, BPM has the ability to shoot up your business’s productivity and efficiency because it streamlines most tasks, notifies you of bottlenecks (and removes them), and reduces steps that are hindering the process and/or are unnecessary.
There are very few things that can boost the satisfaction of employees and customers at the same time. Optimized BPM is one of them. Employees will have more time to focus on workplace innovation and important activities. On the other hand, customers will benefit from this paradigm shift by enjoying better services and products.
Strategy strengthens once you introduce BPM into the system. It helps optimize resources and align the business goals to the process itself. We know the wonders that an excellent strategy can do for a business, right?
This is the gigantic cherry on top that all of us want. With better collaboration, reduced efforts, and removal of unnecessary tasks, it is obvious that the costs will go down while productivity keeps climbing the ladder.
Also Read: 10 Valuable Benefits of Business Process Management
Business Process Management (BPM) comes with its share of challenges that organizations must navigate to successfully implement and maintain effective processes. Some of the key challenges include:
It’s time to understand the reasons why you should integrate BPM into your system. If you check any of the following boxes, you need it.
Also read: RPA and BPM: What’s the difference, and which one do you need?
Let’s try to understand BPM better by picking up examples from various industries.
Admission requirements, course certifications, and research grants. The list of processes is never ending in the education sector. Thank God for BPM!
The amount of paperwork one handles in the legal department is astounding. The manual process is quite tedious, from handling contracts to reviewing them and ensuring everything is on track. BPM definitely comes to the rescue.
Claims data entry, membership life changes, membership application approval, and claim grievances are part and parcel of the insurance life. What better way to make all of these easier than with a business process management software program?
Now, we are going to talk about the use of BMP in different functions with the use of examples.
The onboarding process is one of the most chaotic tasks for the HR department. Did you know that BPM can streamline the process and that further automation can eliminate the need to fill out exhaustive paper forms? Of course! The same applies to employee timesheets as well.
Invoice approvals are painstaking. Sometimes, a typing error here or a math mistake there can stymie the whole process. BPM eliminates these obstacles through automation. There is literally no room for error!
Ah, how we pity the accounting team! They have so much to take care of and are often short-handed. The sheer number of emails they get per day is daunting. Now, imagine their workload! When you bring in BPM to such a troubled department, you ease the burden and smoothen the entire system. Travel requests, reimbursements, etc., can happen with one click!
The purchase approval system is so ancient in a few companies that it gives employees nightmares! And no, we are not even exaggerating! Rogue spending is a constant risk, along with human errors and a lack of transparency. You can say goodbye to all these issues with business process management.
Business strategy, contract management, data security, operational efficiency, and project management – there’s barely anything that BPM won’t do for the IT industry.
Explore real-world business process management examples showcasing transformative prowess across diverse industries, driving efficiency and innovation in unique contexts.
A retail chain optimized store operations through BPM implementation. The BPM platform automated inventory management, sales tracking, and staff scheduling. This led to better inventory accuracy, improved sales insights, and optimized staffing levels.
A leading life insurance and financial services company optimized marketing request handling by developing a custom BPM application. This platform enabled streamlined creation and routing of marketing requests, offering comprehensive visibility and standardizing the creative request process.
A logistics company optimized supply chain operations using BPM technology. They automated order processing, inventory tracking, and shipment notifications. The BPM-enabled system improved order accuracy, reduced delivery times, and enhanced overall supply chain efficiency.
A global insurance company transformed its claims management system by utilizing BPM software. This initiative significantly reduced manual data entry, enhanced real-time reporting capabilities, and provided comprehensive process visibility by integrating various legacy systems into a unified platform.
A large organization streamlined employee onboarding through BPM, automating processes from candidate intake to new hire paperwork. Leveraging automation and robotic process automation (RPA), the BPM-enabled application facilitated smoother handoffs between teams, reducing manual efforts and ensuring a more efficient onboarding experience.
A healthcare provider optimized patient care journeys with BPM. They implemented a BPM solution to manage patient appointments, treatment plans, and follow-ups. This improved patient care coordination, reduced appointment scheduling errors, and enhanced overall healthcare service delivery.
An organization enhanced project management efficiency by implementing a BPM-based application. This solution empowered project managers to choose predefined workflows, automate task assignments, track progress, and provide real-time notifications to manage critical project elements effectively.
A manufacturing firm improved supplier relations by implementing BPM software. They automated supplier onboarding, performance monitoring, and payment processes. The BPM solution ensured better supplier visibility, reduced processing times, and facilitated proactive issue resolution.
A large real estate corporation revamped its contract management process using a BPM platform. By centralizing contracts and integrating with enterprise applications, the BPM solution facilitated collaborative contract management, delivering increased visibility and business intelligence across multiple subsidiaries.
A telecommunications company revamped its customer service operations using BPM. The BPM platform facilitated customer issue tracking, automated resolution processes, and offered a unified view of customer interactions. This led to faster query resolutions, improved customer satisfaction, and reduced service downtime.
An organization focused on strengthening compliance and risk management procedures through BPM. This approach documented financial processes, conducted control tests, and tracked issues, offering real-time reporting, centralized audit information, and enhanced financial risk management.
A government entity improved procurement operations and cost reduction through a BPM-based solution. This end-to-end procurement system enforced policy compliance, reduced acquisition cycle times, and generated substantial savings by streamlining pre-award, award, and post-award activities.
A prominent retailer streamlined lease tracking across numerous stores globally with BPM. By consolidating lease management processes, the BPM solution improved tracking accuracy, ensured compliance with critical deadlines, and offered better visibility into negotiation team performance.
An equipment and services supplier elevated customer service by employing a BPM platform for service request management. This enabled efficient tracking of service requests, streamlined invoicing, and increased collaboration across departments, resulting in improved service cycles and enhanced customer experiences.
A retail conglomerate optimized inventory control using BPM software. By implementing a BPM-based solution, they automated inventory tracking, managed stock levels, and streamlined procurement processes, ensuring better inventory management and cost-effective operations.
Also Read: Top Business Process Management Stats to help you add efficiency
Business process management tools & technologies encompass various tools and approaches, including those that are code-free or “no-code” in nature. Here’s a breakdown of different types of BPM technologies:
Each type of BPM technology offers distinct advantages, and the choice depends on an organization’s specific needs, technical capabilities, and desired level of automation.
We are positive that we have convinced you about BPM. Let’s see how you can get started with it now.
Our era calls for the convenience of no-code and low-code app development. This is why we must look at how you can use these platforms for BPM. They work to remove all complications in the process of development. Any business can create a BPM solution with minimal resources and effort. You don’t even need to spend a lot of money because you won’t hire professional coders for it. You can also customize the tool to your needs and remove all unnecessary functions.
Traditional BPM tools are still prevalent, but we think it is time to shun them. Why? They are complicated. They are also very expensive and time-consuming. With new no-code and low-code platforms, you can enjoy the following:
While low-code platforms are an upgrade and shower multiple benefits on the user, why stop? Today, no-code platforms are ruling the roost with their 0% complexity formula. They require absolutely no technical knowledge, and anyone can build a BPM application from scratch. Low-code platforms still require basic tech knowledge, whereas no-code application development is so simple anyone can use them.
Business process management and workflow automation through no-code platforms are the need of the hour and the future of application development. The faster businesses embrace it; the easier it will be for them to navigate daily business needs and processes.
Also read: Everything you should know about no-code development
Business process management solutions and workflow automation through no-code platforms are the need of the hour. The faster businesses embrace it; the easier it will be for them to navigate through daily business needs and processes.
Quixy is among the top no-code business process management platforms. No matter your business, Quixy can help you with your business process management and automation at least 10x faster. It is also extremely easy to use. Get started with our platform, and experience the ease of automated processes and personalized app building.
The cost associated with Business Process Management (BPM) can vary widely depending on factors such as the complexity of the processes, the scale of implementation, the chosen technology, and the level of customization required. While traditional BPM solutions can sometimes involve significant upfront expenses, no-code BPM platforms have introduced a more cost-effective and accessible option.
A BPM system is a software solution designed to model, automate, optimize, and manage an organization’s business processes. It helps streamline workflows, improve efficiency, and enhance collaboration among teams.
To select the ideal BPM system, consider factors like industry alignment, scalability, integration options, customization capabilities, and user-friendliness. Assess how well the system can adapt to your unique processes, accommodate growth, and integrate with existing tools. Prioritize a solution that empowers efficient process design, automation, and monitoring while aligning with your business goals.
Adopting a BPM system brings manifold benefits to your organization. It enhances operational efficiency by streamlining processes, reduces errors through standardized workflows, ensures compliance with regulations, fosters team collaboration, and provides real-time insights for informed decision-making. Also, it boosts agility by facilitating quick process modifications and adaptations, leading to improved customer satisfaction and a competitive edge in a dynamic business landscape.
Yes, most BPM systems are designed with integration capabilities in mind. These systems can seamlessly integrate with your existing software applications, databases, and systems. This integration facilitates the exchange of data and information, allowing for smoother process execution and improved communication between different parts of your organization. One notable solution that excels in this regard is Quixy, a leading no-code BPM platform. Quixy’s user-friendly interface empowers organizations to create, automate, and optimize processes without coding. It emphasizes integration capabilities, ensuring that your processes align with your technology ecosystem, thus enhancing overall efficiency and productivity.
Yes, BPM systems are indeed equipped to manage intricate and evolving processes. With features like adaptable workflow setups, dynamic case management, and the ability to model complex processes with multiple decision points, BPM systems address sophisticated requirements. An example of a platform that excels in this domain is Quixy. Quixy is a leading no-code BPM platform that empowers organizations to create, automate, and refine processes without coding expertise. It specializes in handling complex and dynamic workflows, enabling businesses to streamline and optimize their operations while fostering innovation efficiently.